Forrester

Why Read This Report

At Computex in Taipei and the All Things D:9 conference in Rancho Palos Verdes this week, Microsoft revealed key details about the next version of Windows, code-named "Windows 8." While there are still many unknowns about the product, the features that Microsoft did disclose point to a major refashioning of Windows on every level. Running natively on ARM processors, delivering a touch-first user interface, and fostering a new "app" ecosystem will transform Windows into an operating system (OS) for the post-PC era. If it performs as advertised, it will be a viable OS for tablets as well as other form factors. There's more that Microsoft needs to do to build out its Windows 8 product strategy, but if it executes well, it can stave off defection from partners and customers to alternative OSes from Apple and Google.